Oldschool wrote:Surely with Zebre in their group they've a great chance of a second place finish at least.Connacht score a lot of tries, it's worth remembering and their defense has tightened up quite a bit.

Theyve a great chance of second and a quarter final. They may need Waaps or Toulose to do the double over the other

When he spreads his legs like that youd need dynamite or the Highland Light Infantry to shift him.

Connacht are not Leicester and succeeded last year despite very significant injuries. They also had a lot of young guys coming through and playing key roles. IMO, they will progress further this year in performance. The key difference may be that they are playing from the winners pedestal and no longer under the radar. Everybody will consider a victory against them, however acquired, will be a big victory.

On the other hand, in Europe Connacht face teams who are a new challenge and easy to get up for. A double against Toulouse last season showed they have the ability and Wasps, with key players departed, may not be as big a surprise as last season.

Connacht probably most favoured of Irish teams to get a quarter final slot at this point and must have a decent chance of a home Q/F - where would they play that?

I wouldn't be disappointed if he did tbh. Loved watching him play but I'd prefer if we kept project players to a minimum. I'm not as against them as others but would still like to keep the numbers down and it's not a position where we're desperate for players.

This is a massively negative slant on things but fast forward a year or two and Connacht may not have Lam, Muldowney, Dillane, Aki, and Henshaw from the team that won the league. They'd be big blows to have to take.

LeRouxIsPHat wrote:I wouldn't be disappointed if he did tbh. Loved watching him play but I'd prefer if we kept project players to a minimum. I'm not as against them as others but would still like to keep the numbers down and it's not a position where we're desperate for players.

This is a massively negative slant on things but fast forward a year or two and Connacht may not have Lam, Muldowney, Dillane, Aki, and Henshaw from the team that won the league. They'd be big blows to have to take.

Lost their backs coach and Dan McParland who played a big role too

The dream of another Leinster/Ireland centre partnership lives

When he spreads his legs like that youd need dynamite or the Highland Light Infantry to shift him.

It's McFarland not McParland and they lost him the year before they won the league. No idea what to make of Aki's interview's but they will be some serious kick-up if he leave's I think. A lot of people in Galway believe this is all an angle for him to get a central contract which would be a first for a guy who isn't eligible to play for Ireland yet. I honestly think it could happen.

It's McFarland not McParland and they lost him the year before they won the league. No idea what to make of Aki's interview's but they will be some serious kick-up if he leave's I think. A lot of people in Galway believe this is all an angle for him to get a central contract which would be a first for a guy who isn't eligible to play for Ireland yet. I honestly think it could happen.

It's McFarland not McParland and they lost him the year before they won the league. No idea what to make of Aki's interview's but they will be some serious kick-up if he leave's I think. A lot of people in Galway believe this is all an angle for him to get a central contract which would be a first for a guy who isn't eligible to play for Ireland yet. I honestly think it could happen.

I know when he left but he laid a lot of foundations, groundwork and other cliches

In Aki's favour there will be very few backs on central deals to 2019

When he spreads his legs like that youd need dynamite or the Highland Light Infantry to shift him.